Prospective Cohort Of Preterm Infants Research Articles

C.6 Sex differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes and brain development from early-life to 8-years in preterm males and females

Background: Sex is associated with differences in early outcomes with preterm males at greater risk for mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to examine preterm sex differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes and brain development from early-life to 8-years. Methods: A prospective cohort of preterm infants born 24-32 weeks gestation were followed to 8-years with standardized measures. MRI scans were performed after birth, term-equivalent age and 8-years. Associations between sex, risk factors, brain volumes, white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) and outcomes were assessed using generalized estimating equations. Results: Preterm males (N=83) and females (N=72) had similar risk factors, brain injury and pain exposure. Sex was a predictor of cognitive scores (P=0.02) and motor impairment (P=0.03), with males having lower cognitive scores and higher motor impairment over time. There was a sex effect for FA (P=0.04), with males having lower FA over time. There were significant sex-brain injury and sex-pain interactions for cognitive and motor outcomes. Conclusions: In this longitudinal study, preterm males had lower cognitive scores and greater motor impairment, which may relate to differences in white matter maturation. Effects of brain injury and pain on outcomes is moderated by sex, indicating a differential response to early-life adversity in preterm males and females.

Ex-utero third trimester developmental changes in functional brain network organization in infants born very and extremely preterm.

The latter half of gestation is a period of rapid brain development, including the formation of fundamental functional brain network architecture. Unlike in-utero fetuses, infants born very and extremely preterm undergo these critical maturational changes in the extrauterine environment, with growing evidence suggesting this may result in altered brain networks. To date, however, the development of functional brain architecture has been unexplored. From a prospective cohort of preterm infants, graph parameters were calculated for fMRI scans acquired prior to reaching term equivalent age. Eight graph properties were calculated, Clustering Coefficient (C), Characteristic Path Length (L), Modularity (Q), Local Efficiency (LE), Global Efficiency (GE), Normalized Clustering (λ), Normalized Path Length (γ), and Small-Worldness (σ). Properties were first compared to values generated from random and lattice networks and cost efficiency was evaluated. Subsequently, linear mixed effect models were used to assess relationship with postmenstrual age and infant sex. A total of 111 fMRI scans were acquired from 85 preterm infants born at a mean GA 28.93 ± 2.8. Infants displayed robust small world properties as well as both locally and globally efficient networks. Regression models found that GE increased while L, Q, λ, γ, and σ decreased with increasing postmenstrual age following multiple comparison correction (r2Adj range 0.143-0.401, p < 0048), with C and LE exhibited trending increases with age. This is the first direct investigation on the extra-uterine formation of functional brain architecture in preterm infants. Importantly, our results suggest that changes in functional architecture with increasing age exhibit a different trajectory relative to in utero fetus. Instead, they exhibit developmental changes more similar to the early postnatal period in term born infants.

Neonatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants according to maternal body mass index: A prospective cohort study.

ObjectiveMaternal obesity is associated with an increase in maternal, foetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationships between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and (1) neonatal outcome in preterm infants, and (2) neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of corrected age.MethodWe conducted a single-centre cohort study. Infants born between 24+0 and 33+6 weeks of gestation between January 2009 and December 2013, hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care unit of Angers University Hospital, and with available data regarding maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index were eligible. Three groups were defined according to maternal body mass index: normal (n = 418), overweight (n = 136) and obese (n = 89). The primary outcome was neurodevelopment at 2 years of corrected age. Children with a non-optimal neuromotor and/or psychomotor assessment and/or a sensory disability were regarded as having a “non-optimal neurodevelopmental outcome”. Neuromotor function was regarded as non-optimal when cerebral palsy was present or when the clinical examination revealed neurological signs of abnormal muscular tone. Psychomotor assessment was regarded as non-optimal if the revised Brunet-Lézine test was < 85 or when the overall score in the parental Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) was < 185. Finally, sensory disabilities such as blindness and children who required a hearing aid were taken into account. The secondary outcome was the composite criteria of neonatal complications. Multivariable analysis included the following variables: mother’s age, gestational age, smoking during pregnancy, magnesium sulphate and steroid treatment during pregnancy, twin status, gender, socioeconomic status and social security benefits for those with low incomes.ResultsThe study population was composed of 643 preterm infants. Among them, 520 were assessed at 2 years. There was no difference in the proportion of infants with non-optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes between the three groups (16.6% for obese, 13.5% for overweight, 16.9% for normal body mass index mothers; p = 0.73). According to multivariable analysis, being born from an overweight or obese mother was not associated with an increased risk of non-optimal neuro-development at 2 years (adjusted OR = 0.84 [0.40–1.76] for obese, adjusted OR = 0.83 [0.43–1.59] for overweight mothers). There was no difference in the proportion of preterm infants with a non-optimal composite criterion of neonatal complications between the three groups. In the multivariable analysis, being born from an overweight or obese mother was not associated with an increased risk of non-optimal neonatal outcomes (adjusted OR = 0.95 [0.49–1.83] for obese, adjusted OR = 1.18 [0.69–2.01] for overweight mothers).ConclusionIn this large prospective cohort of preterm infants born before 34 weeks of gestation, we found no relationship between maternal body mass index and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of corrected age and no relationship between maternal body mass index and neonatal outcomes. Other prematurity-related factors may be more relevant for neurodevelopmental outcome than the mother’s pre-pregnancy BMI.

Three-year perinatal outcomes of less invasive beractant administration in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome

Objective: To assess the impact of beractant treatment using the less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) technique on perinatal outcomes in a prospective cohort of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).Design: Single-center prospective study conducted in a Department of Neonatology of a tertiary care university-affiliated hospital in Madrid, Spain.Methods: Preterm infants born at <31 + 6 weeks’ gestation attended in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 2012 and 2016. The main outcome was the need of invasive mechanical ventilation during the first 3 days of life. Beractant (100 mg; 4 mL/kg) was administered using the intubation-surfactant-extubation (INSURE) method during 2012 and 2013, and using the LISA procedure between 2014 and 2016.Results: The study population included 512 infants, 232 in the first period and 280 in the second period. Mechanical ventilation exposure during hospitalization showed a significant reduction in the second study period, with an adjusted OR of 0.61, 95% CI 0.39–0.96. Also, an increase of free-bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) survival was found (adjusted OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.29–3.55). These significant differences in perinatal outcomes were observed only in the group of infants of 26 + 0 to 28 + 6 gestational weeks. The success rate of the first dose of beractant using LISA regarding no need of intubation during the first 3 days of life was 54% increasing to 69% in the group of 26 + 0–28 + 6 weeks of gestation. The success rate regarding free-BPD survival was 63.5% in the whole series of LISA treated patients and 72.4% in the group of 26 + 0–28 + 6 weeks. Oxygen reduction after surfactant administration (OR 39.6, 95% CI 6.1–255.8, p < .001) was predictor of LISA success, whereas LISA failure was an independent factor for air leak (OR 18.92, 95% CI 1.31–272.32, p = .031) and Death or BPD outcome (OR 19.3, 95% IC 2.5–147.4, p = .004). Gestational age was inversely associated with the need of intubation after LISA (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32–0.87, p = .013).Conclusions: Beractant administration by LISA technique effective reduced the need of intubation during the first 3 days of life and was associated with an increase in survival-free BPD in the group of infants born at 26 + 0 and 28 + 6 weeks’ gestation.

Efficacy of Antenatal Corticosteroid Treatment on Neurodevelopmental Outcome according to Head Circumference at Birth

Background: There are concerns about the efficacy of antenatal corticosteroid treatment (ACT) in the growth-restricted fetus. Objective: To evaluate the effect of ACT on neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of corrected age according to the z score of birth head circumference (ZS HC) in a large prospective cohort of preterm infants. Methods: This study was conducted as a population-based, prospective, multicenter study, including 4,965 infants born between 24 and 33 weeks' gestation and whose status regarding ACT and the measurement of head circumference at birth were available. They were evaluated at 2 years of corrected age to assess neurological outcome. Three approaches were considered to estimate the effect of ACT on neurodevelopment: (i) logistic regression with adjustment on propensity score, (ii) weighted logistic regression using the inverse probability of treatment weighting method, and (iii) 1:1 matching of gestational age, ZS HC, and propensity score between treated and nontreated infants. Results: ACT was documented in 60% of infants. Three groups of infants were considered according to their ZS HC: between -3 and -1 standard deviation (SD), -1 and +1 SD, and +1 and +3 SD, respectively. ACT was associated with a significant improvement of neurodevelopmental outcome only for infants with an ZS HC of between +1 and +3 SD (adjusted OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.06-2.79). Moreover, ORs estimated in the -3 to -1 and +1 to +3 categories were significantly different. Conclusion: We found beneficial effects of ACT on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of corrected age only in preterm infants with a ZS HC >1 SD.

Fetal and Postnatal Head Circumference Growth: Synergetic Factors for Neurodevelopmental Outcome at 2 Years of Age for Preterm Infants

: Preterm infants present higher risk of non-optimal neurodevelopmental outcome. Fetal and postnatal growth, in particular head circumference (HC), is associated with neurodevelopmental outcome. Objectives: We aimed to calculate the relationship between HC at birth, HC delta Z-score (between birth and hospital discharge), and non-optimal neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of corrected age in preterm infants. Methods: Surviving infants born ≤34 weeks of gestation were included in the analysis. The relationship between the risk of being non-optimal at 2 years and both HC at birth and HC growth was assessed. The 2 Z-scores were considered first independently and then simultaneously to investigate their effect on the risk of non-optimality using a generalized additive model. Results: A total of 4,046 infants with both HC measures at birth and hospital discharge were included. Infants with small HC at birth (Z-score <-2 SD), or presenting suboptimal HC growth (dZ-score <-2 SD), are at higher risk of non-optimal neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years (respectively OR 1.7 [95% CI 1.4-2] and OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.2-1.8]). Interestingly, patients cumulating small HC Z-score at birth (-2 SD) and presenting catch-down growth (HC dZ-score [-2 SD]) have a significantly increased risk for neurocognitive impairment (OR >2) while adjusting for gestational age, twin status, sex, and socioeconomic information. Conclusions: HC at birth and HC dZ-score between birth and hospital discharge are synergistically associated to neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of corrected age, in a population-based prospective cohort of preterm infants born ≤34 weeks of gestation.

Probiotics and antimicrobial protein and peptide levels in preterm infants.

To characterise the secreted and inducible antimicrobial protein and peptide (APP) levels in a prospective cohort of preterm infants (<30 weeks gestational age) with or without Bifidobacterium breve M16V supplementation during the first month of life. We analysed serial biosamples of infants who did (n = 13) or did not receive (n = 62) B. breve (3 × 109 cfu/day). Peripheral blood was obtained on days 1, 14 and 28, and infant stool prior to commencement of probiotic supplementation and on day 21. Levels of APP (bactericidal/permeability inducing protein (BPI), beta defensins 1 and 2, lactoferrin, human cathelicidin, secretory phospholipase A2) in plasma and stool were determined. Further, we characterised induced APP levels in whole blood cultured with live S. epidermidis or with agonists of Toll-like receptors 2/6 and 4. Stool, plasma and stimulated blood APP levels changed significantly during the first month of life. Supplementation with B. breve did not affect basal or stimulated APP levels except for a transient increase in inducible BPI. Supplementation with B. breve does not appear to act via modulation of systemic or enteric APP expression in preterm infants although small effects cannot be excluded. Further work with other probiotic preparations is warranted.

Resistive indices of cerebral arteries in very preterm infants: values throughout stay in the neonatal intensive care unit and impact of patent ductus arteriosus.

BackgroundLittle is known about cerebral artery resistive index values in infants born extremely preterm.ObjectiveTo report resistive index values in various cerebral arteries in a prospective cohort of preterm infants born at <29 weeks’ gestation, and to compare resistive index in these arteries and assess the relationship between resistive index and hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus.Materials and methodsUsing Doppler imaging, we obtained resistive index values of internal carotid arteries, basilar artery, anterior cerebral artery, and pial and striatal arteries in the first 3 days of age and weekly thereafter until discharge or death. We analyzed paired observations using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, between-group comparisons with the Mann–Whitney test.ResultsWe performed 771 examinations in 235 infants. Resistive indices differed among arteries: vessels with larger diameters showed significantly higher resistive indices. Resistive index in infants without patent ductus arteriosus was lower than that in infants with hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (median in anterior cerebral artery: 0.75 and 0.82, respectively; P<0.001), though this was not statistically significant in all arteries. There was no difference in pre- and post-ligation resistive indices in infants who underwent patent ductus arteriosus ligation.ConclusionFor accurate follow-up and comparison of cerebral artery resistive index, the same artery should be examined on each occasion.

Early urinary biomarkers of acute kidney injury in preterm infants.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the neonatal intensive care setting is multifactorial and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study evaluates the utility of novel urinary biomarkers to predict the development and/or severity AKI in preterm infants. We performed a case-control study on a prospective cohort of preterm infants (<32 wk), to compare seven urine biomarkers between 25 infants with AKI and 20 infants without AKI. Infants with AKI had significantly higher neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) (median, control (CTRL) vs. AKI; 0.598 vs. 4.24 µg/ml; P < 0.0001). In contrast, urinary epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels were significantly lower in infants who developed AKI compared to controls (median, CTRL vs. AKI; 0.016 vs. 0.006 µg/ml; P < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for NGAL for prediction of stage I AKI on the day prior to AKI diagnosis (day-1) was 0.91, and for the prediction of stage II/III, AKI was 0.92. Similarly, urine EGF was a predictor of renal injury on day -1 (AUC: 0.97 for stage I and 0.86 for stage II/III AKI). Urinary biomarkers may be useful to predict AKI development prior to changes in serum creatinine (SCr) in preterm infants.

G112 Chorioamnionitis in preterm infants is not associated with brain size and maturation at term equivalent age

Introduction Chorioamnionitis is a risk factor for adverse neurodevelopment in preterm infants but the effect on brain size or maturation is unclear. This study aimed to determine the association between perinatal characteristics and histological chorioamnionitis in a cohort of preterm infants. We also aimed to establish the association between chorioamnionitis and brain size and maturation. Methods A large prospective cohort of preterm infants was identified and data from placental histology reports were collected and chorioamnionitis, characterised into either no inflammatory response, maternal response only or both fetal and maternal response. All infants had brain MRI scans at term equivalent age. T1 and T2 weighted images were systematically scored for size of cerebral structures, degree of myelination, gyral maturation, signal abnormalities and presence of cysts. Differences between groups were compared using linear regression for continuous variables and logistic regression for categorical variables. Results Of the 237 infants included in this study, 58 (24.5%) had histological evidence of chorioamnionitis. Table 1 summarises the demographic data. Infants with evidence of chorioamnionitis on placental histology had higher rates of preterm delivery (p Chorioamnionitis, however, was not associated with brain injury or delayed maturation on qualitative MRI assessment. The MRI scoring data is shown in Table 2.

Serial Cranial US for Detection of Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis in Preterm Infants

Purpose To report the incidence of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) in a prospective cohort of preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 29 weeks. Materials and Methods The local medical ethics review board approved this study, and written parental consent was obtained. Preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 29 weeks who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were prospectively studied with cranial ultrasonography (US). The scanning protocol included visualization with color Doppler imaging of the superior sagittal sinus and transverse sinuses through the anterior (8.5-MHz probe) and mastoid (13-MHz probe) fontanelles. When feasible, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to confirm cranial US-diagnosed CSVT. The differences between preterm infants with and those without CSVT were analyzed by using Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables and Fisher exact tests for categorical data. Results Cranial US was used to document CSVT in 11 of 249 preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 29 weeks. Transverse sinuses were most frequently affected (in all 11 patients with CSVT). All infants with CSVT were asymptomatic. Postnatal age at diagnosis ranged from 5 to 34 days. The mean gestational age was significantly lower in infants with CSVT (25.9 weeks vs 26.8 weeks, P = .038). Of the risk factors studied, only duration of mechanical ventilation was associated with CSVT; it was significantly longer in the CSVT group. Conclusion Systematic serial cranial US of infants with a gestational age of less than 29 weeks showed a remarkably high incidence of CSVT of 4.4%. Cranial US including color Doppler imaging with scans obtained through the mastoid fontanelle can depict CSVT at an early stage. Treatment of this possibly important condition needs attention. © RSNA, 2013

Serial Cranial US for Detection of Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis in Preterm Infants

To report the incidence of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) in a prospective cohort of preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 29 weeks. The local medical ethics review board approved this study, and written parental consent was obtained. Preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 29 weeks who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were prospectively studied with cranial ultrasonography (US). The scanning protocol included visualization with color Doppler imaging of the superior sagittal sinus and transverse sinuses through the anterior (8.5-MHz probe) and mastoid (13-MHz probe) fontanelles. When feasible, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to confirm cranial US-diagnosed CSVT. The differences between preterm infants with and those without CSVT were analyzed by using Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables and Fisher exact tests for categorical data. Cranial US was used to document CSVT in 11 of 249 preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 29 weeks. Transverse sinuses were most frequently affected (in all 11 patients with CSVT). All infants with CSVT were asymptomatic. Postnatal age at diagnosis ranged from 5 to 34 days. The mean gestational age was significantly lower in infants with CSVT (25.9 weeks vs 26.8 weeks, P = .038). Of the risk factors studied, only duration of mechanical ventilation was associated with CSVT; it was significantly longer in the CSVT group. Systematic serial cranial US of infants with a gestational age of less than 29 weeks showed a remarkably high incidence of CSVT of 4.4%. Cranial US including color Doppler imaging with scans obtained through the mastoid fontanelle can depict CSVT at an early stage. Treatment of this possibly important condition needs attention.

A predictive score for retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight preterm infants

This study describes the development of a score based on cumulative risk factors for the prediction of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) comparing the performance of the score against the birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA) in order to predict the onset of ROP. A prospective cohort of preterm infants with BW≤ 1500 g and/or GA≤ 32 weeks was studied. The score was developed based on BW, GA, proportional weight gain from birth to the 6th week of life, use of oxygen in mechanical ventilation, and need for blood transfusions from birth to the 6th week of life. The score was established after linear regression, considering the impact of each variable on the occurrences of any stage and severe ROP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the best sensitivity and specificity values for the score. All variables were entered into an Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft) for practical use by ophthalmologists during screening sessions. The sample included 474 patients. The area under the ROC curve for the score was 0.77 and 0.88 to predict any stage and severe ROP, respectively. These values were significantly higher for the score than for BW (0.71) and GA (0.69) when measured separately. ROPScore is an excellent index of neonatal risk factors for ROP, which is easy to record and more accurate than BW and GA to predict any stage ROP or severe ROP in preterm infants. The scoring system is simple enough to be routinely used by ophthalmologists during screening examination for detection of ROP.

Frequency of Ureaplasma Serovars in Respiratory Secretions of Preterm Infants at Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Ureaplasma respiratory tract colonization is associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Whether the 4 Ureaplasma parvum and 10 Ureaplasma urealyticum serovars differ in virulence is unknown. This study was conducted to determine the distribution of Ureaplasma serovars in respiratory secretions of a prospective cohort of preterm infants and to assess whether any of the serovars are associated with BPD. Serial endotracheal and/or nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained for Ureaplasma culture and PCR from 136 infants of gestational age <33 weeks. All positive samples were speciated and serovars were determined by real-time PCR. A total of 51 (37.5%) infants were Ureaplasma-positive one or more times during the first month of life. Respiratory colonization was inversely related to gestational age. Sixty-five percent of infants <26 weeks compared with 31% infants ≥ 26 weeks were culture or PCR positive. U. parvum was more common (N = 32, 63%) than U. urealyticum (N = 17, 33%); both species were present in 2 samples. Serovars 3 and 6 alone and in combination accounted for 96% U. parvum isolates. U. urealyticum isolates were commonly a mixture of multiple serovars, with serovar 11 alone or combined with other serovars (10/17, 59%) being the most common serovar. No individual species or serovars or serovar mixtures were associated with moderate-to-severe BPD. U. parvum serovars 3 and 6 and U. urealyticum serovar 11 were the most common serovars detected in respiratory samples from a prospective cohort of preterm infants.

Red Blood Cell Transfusions are Independently Associated with Intra-Hospital Mortality in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants

To test the hypothesis that red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in preterm infants are associated with increased intra-hospital mortality. Variables associated with death were studied with Cox regression analysis in a prospective cohort of preterm infants with birth weight <1500 g in the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research. Intra-hospital death and death after 28 days of life were analyzed as dependent variables. Independent variables were infant demographic and clinical characteristics and RBC transfusions. Of 1077 infants, 574 (53.3%) received at least one RBC transfusion during the hospital stay. The mean number of transfusions per infant was 3.3 ± 3.4, with 2.1 ± 2.1 in the first 28 days of life. Intra-hospital death occurred in 299 neonates (27.8%), and 60 infants (5.6%) died after 28 days of life. After adjusting for confounders, the relative risk of death during hospital stay was 1.49 in infants who received at least one RBC transfusion in the first 28 days of life, compared with infants who did not receive a transfusion. The risk of death after 28 days of life was 1.89 times higher in infants who received more than two RBC transfusions during their hospital stay, compared with infants who received one or two transfusions. Transfusion was associated with increased death, and transfusion guidelines should consider risks and benefits of transfusion.

Electrographic Seizures in Preterm Infants During the First Week of Life Are Associated With Cerebral Injury

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of electrographic seizure activity in a prospective cohort of preterm infants and relate it to the presence of cerebral injury. Infants born <30-wk gestation received a median 74 h of continuous 2-channel EEG with amplitude-integrated EEG monitoring in the first week of life. Infants were classified in the abnormal outcome group if they died in the neonatal period and/or had grades 3-4 intraventricular hemorrhage and/or moderate or severe abnormalities on cerebral MRI. Seizures were defined as rhythmic spike and/or wave activity lasting at least 10 s on the raw EEG trace. Eleven of 51 infants monitored had electrographic seizures. These infants were more premature had lower birth weights and a greater proportion had abnormal outcomes. In four infants, seizures preceded ultrasound findings of grades 3-4 intraventricular hemorrhage. Three of the four infants with seizures and concurrent physiologic recordings displayed concurrent rises in heart rate and one showed a fall in respiratory rate. In conclusion, electrographic seizures were more likely to occur in the sicker and more premature infants with abnormal outcomes. Seizures detected on continuous amplitude-integrated EEG monitoring with the raw EEG were associated with poor outcome.

Variability on red blood cell transfusion practices among Brazilian neonatal intensive care units

Guidelines for red blood cell (RBC) transfusions exist; however, transfusion practices vary among centers. This study aimed to analyze transfusion practices and the impact of patients and institutional characteristics on the indications of RBC transfusions in preterm infants. RBC transfusion practices were investigated in a multicenter prospective cohort of preterm infants with a birth weight of less than 1500 g born at eight public university neonatal intensive care units of the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research. Variables associated with any RBC transfusions were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Of 952 very-low-birth-weight infants, 532 (55.9%) received at least one RBC transfusion. The percentages of transfused neonates were 48.9, 54.5, 56.0, 61.2, 56.3, 47.8, 75.4, and 44.7%, respectively, for Centers 1 through 8. The number of transfusions during the first 28 days of life was higher in Center 4 and 7 than in other centers. After 28 days, the number of transfusions decreased, except for Center 7. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed higher likelihood of transfusion in infants with late onset sepsis (odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-4.4), intraventricular hemorrhage (OR, 9.4; 95% CI, 3.3-26.8), intubation at birth (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.8), need for umbilical catheter (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3-4.4), days on mechanical ventilation (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.2), oxygen therapy (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.1), parenteral nutrition (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.1), and birth center (p < 0.001). The need of RBC transfusions in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants was associated with clinical conditions and birth center. The distribution of the number of transfusions during hospital stay may be used as a measure of neonatal care quality.

Histologic chorioamnionitis, fetal involvement, and antenatal steroids: effects on neonatal outcome in preterm infants

The objective of the study was to study the effects of histologic chorioamnionitis (HC) with or without fetal involvement and antenatal steroid (AS) exposure on neonatal outcome in a prospective cohort of preterm infants. The clinical characteristics and placental histology were prospectively collected in 301 infants born at a gestational age 32.0 weeks or less in the Erasmus University Medical Center. In univariable analyses, HC without fetal involvement (n=53) was associated with decreased severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (11% vs 28%; P<.05), whereas HC with fetal involvement infants (n=68) had more necrotizing enterocolitis (9% vs 2%; P<.05), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (25% vs 12%; P<.05), and neonatal mortality (19% vs 9%; P<.05). In HC without fetal involvement infants, AS reduced the incidences of RDS (43% vs 85%; P<.05) and IVH (5% vs 39%; P<.01). In multivariable analyses, HC without fetal involvement was associated with decreased severe RDS (odds ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.93; P<.05) and increased early-onset sepsis (odds ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-4.83; P<.05). In a prospective cohort of preterm infants, multivariable analyses reveal only a modest association between histologic chorioamnionitis and neonatal outcome.